Ink ribbon cartridge having removable spools

ABSTRACT

The present ribbon cartridge permits the insertion of a ribbon into a writing machine and the subsequent removal of the empty cartridge from the writing machine. For this purpose the cartridge is provided with ribbon guide means which correspond to the ribbon guide means of the writing machine whereby upon insertion of the cartridge with the ribbon into the writing machine the ribbon is transferred from the guide means in the cartridge to the guide means in the writing machine. The cartridge further includes a bottom with open ended apertures for insertion into the writing machine and with releasable interlocking means whereby the empty cartridge may be removed from the writing machine.

United States Patent [191 Von Daeniken INK RIBBON CARTRIDGE HAVING REMOVABLE SPOOLS Niklaus Von Daeniken, Zuerich, Switzerland Messrs. Franz Buttner AG, Egg b. Zeurich, Switzerland 22 Filed: Sept. 12,1972

21 Appl. No.: 288,260

[75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 15, 1971 Germany 2145985 [52] U.S. Cl. 197/151 [51] Int. Cl B4lj 33/14 [58] Field of Search 197/151 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,825,450 3/1958 Lambert 197/151 X 2,873,015 2/1959 Gray 197/151 2,986,260 5/1961 Whippo 197/151 2,999,578 9/1961 Holden 197/151 3,065,837 11/1962 DiLuco 197/151 3,075,627 1/1963 Kuckhoff 197/151 3,094,204 6/1963 Landgraf 197/151 3,151,723 10/1964 Wendt 197/151 3,151,724 10/1964 Ross et al. 197/151 3,260,344 7/1966 Doyle 197/151 3,272,304 9/1966 Morelli 197/151 3,349,887 10/1967 Goff 197/151 3,396,828 8/1968 Moshier et al 197/151 3,513,957 5/1970 Ricciardi et a1. 197/151 3,682,407 8/1972 Lichtenstein et a1. 197/151 X Primary ExaminerErnest T. Wright, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wolfgang G. Fasse 5 7 ABSTRACT The present ribbon cartridge permits the insertion of a ribbon into a writing machine and the subsequent removal of the empty cartridge from the writing machine. For this purpose the cartridge is provided with ribbon guide means which correspond to the ribbon guide means of the writing machine whereby upon insertion of the cartridge with the ribbon into the writing machine the ribbon is transferred from the guide means in the cartridge to the guide means in the writing machine. The cartridge further includes a bottom with open ended apertures for insertion into the writing machine and with releasable interlocking means whereby the empty cartridge may be removed from the writing machine.

16 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU SEP 31974 smuorz INK RIBBON CARTRIDGE HAVING REMOVABLE SPOOLS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a ribbon Cartridge, especially for writing machines. Thus, the present cartridge is suitable not only for typewriters but also for any other writing machine employing a carbon ribbon, whereby the cartridge may be used in connection with woven ribbons as well as with plastic film ribbons.

Two considerations have mainly influenced the guiding of the ribbon in writing machines heretofore, namely, the use of so called plastic film carbon ribbons which are discarded after a single passage through the writing machine and the construction of these machines for assuring an optimal utilization of the surface areav of the ribbon running but once through the machine. As a result, the path which the ribbon must follow on its run through the machine has frequently become rather complicated whereby the insertion of a new ribbon is not facilitated. To the contrary, a complicated ribbon path makes the exchange of the ribbon equally complicated.

In order to facilitate the ribbon exchange ribbon cartridges have been suggested heretofore which are suitable not only for the storage and transporting of the ribbon but which are also intended to facilitate the insertion of the ribbon into the writing machine. Thus, cartridges are known which permanently contain the new ribbons and which remain in the writing machine until the entire ribbon has been used up whereupon the cartridge as well as the ribbon are discarded. Even this typeof cartridge requires still a substantial skill for the insertion of the ribbon into the guide means which define its path through the writing machine. In addition, the ribbon exchange always involves the drawback that not only the operators fingers but also the clothing and the entire environment of the writing machine may become soiled as a result of a ribbon exchange.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, it is the aim of the invention to achievethe following objects singly or in combination:

to provide a cartridge for a writing machine ribbon which avoids the above drawbacks of the prior art;

to provide a ribbon cartridge which will protect the ribbon during storage and transport and which simultaneously will assure a simple and clean insertion of the ribbon into the writing machine;

the cartridge shall also be removable, at least partially, preferably completely from the machine as soon as the new ribbon has been inserted in order to avoid any influence or interference of the cartridge with the proper operation of the writing machine;

to provide a ribbon cartridge which comprises an internal guide path substantially simulating the respective guide path for the ribbon in the writing machine; and

to provide a cartridge which is especially suitable for use in connection with writing machines having a complicated ribbon path through which the ribbon must move from the unused supply roll to the take-up roller or bobbin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above objects have been achieved according to the invention by means of a writing ribbon cartridge which has a cartridge housing and a ribbon guide path between a ribbon supply roll and a ribbon take-up roll which guide path corresponds substantially to the path of ribbon travel through the writing machine. Further, the housing of the cartridge has a cover member and a bottom which are removable from the writing machine just as soon as a new ribbon has been inserted into the machine.

Preferably, the cartridge bottom comprises a plurality of open ended apertures separated by finger shaped portions of the cartridge bottom which fit or engage respective slots in a side wall of the cartridge cover member so that by withdrawing the fingers from said slots the bottom of the cover member may be removed separately from the writing machine.

BRIEF FIGURE DESCRIPTION In order that the invention may be clearly understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a cartridge according to the invention made of transparent plastic material;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the cartridge according to FIG. 1 as seen in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 1, however, with the top of the cartridge facing downwardly;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the cartridge according to FIG. 1 as seen in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 1, with the top of the cartridge facing upwardly;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the cartridge bottom; and

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1 the present cartridge comprises a housing 1 including a cover member 2 and a bottom member 3 best seen in FIG. 4. A first bobbin 4 supported on a journal pin 5 carries a roll 6 of unused ribbon 7. The supply roll 6 is rotatable counter-clockwise as indicated by the arrow 8 to pay out the ribbon 7 through a pay out ribbon slot 9 in a side wall of the cover member 2. The ribbon 7 emerges from the slot 9 and is guided along the outer surface of the side wall to a guide pin 10 arranged in a corner of the somewhat V-shaped side wall 11 of the cover member 2 whereby a guide slot is provided between the surface of the side wall 11 and the pin 10. The just mentioned guide slot is open at its upper end.

The ribbon 7 then continues to be guided along the outer surface of the side wall 11 of the cover member 2 until it reaches an infeed slot 12 in the side wall 11. Inside the housing 1 there are arranged guide means in the form of guide pins 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17. These guide pins l3, l4, l5, l6 and 17 are arranged according to the invention in such positions as to substantially duplicate the path of the ribbon 7 through the writing machine, whereby such path is defined by guide means (not shown) located in the writing machine. These guide pins 13 to 17 guide the ribbon 7 inside the cartridge toward a second bobbin 18 supported on a journal pin 19 where the used ribbon 7 is taken up to form a roll 20 which rotates clockwise as indicated by the arrow 21. It should be noted here that the supply bobbin 4 and the take-up bobbin 18 need not necessarily be arranged on journal shafts or'studs which are re ceived in respective recesses in the writing machine, but that the bobbins 4 and 18 may be hollow for receiving respective journal studs located in the writing machine.

Preferably, the guide pins l3, 14, 15, 16 and 17 are attached to the cover member 2. These guide pins 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 may be located so that the respective guide means in the writing machine will be positioned in parallel to the guide pins 13, l4, 15, 16 and 17 of the cartridge for transferring the ribbon 7 from the guide pins 13, 14, l5, l6 and 17 of the cartridge to the guide means of the writing machine when the cartridge is removed after insertion of the ribbon 7. However, in an alternative embodiment the guide pins 13 to 17 may also comprise tubular members into which respective ribbon receiving guide means of the writing machine may fit for receiving the ribbon 7 upon removal of the cartridge.

FIG. 2 illustrates a view in the direction of the arrow B shown in FIG. 1 whereby the top wall 22 of the cover member 2 faces downwardly. The cover member 2 comprises slots 23 along its bottom edge 24. These slots 23 provide releasable engagement means for the cartridge bottom 3 to be described in more detail below. The cover member 2 may further comprise reinforced edges 25. Incidentally, the cover member 2 may have portions of different heights, interconnected by a preferably slanting top wall member 36.

FIG. 3 illustrates a view of the cover member 2 in the direction of arrow A as shown in FIG. 1. This view illustrates the other longitudinal wall 26 of the cover member 2 which may, for example, be provided with a cut out 27 to enable grasping of the cover member 2, to facilitate the removal of the cartridge from a writing machine. The lower edges 25 of the shorter side walls may be provided with inwardly facing grooves 28 and 29 which may receive the lateral edges of the bottom 3. These grooves 28 and 29 may cooperate with the slots 23 and the bottom member 3 for forming releasable engagement means between the cover member 2 and the bottom member 3. However, in the alternative, the grooves 28 and 29 may be provided without the addition of the slots 23.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the bottom member 3 which comprises a plurality of fingers 30 forming a somewhat comb-shaped configuration since the fingers 30 are spaced by apertures 31 which are preferably open ended to facilitate the insertion and withdrawal of the cartridge relative to the writing machine. The finger tips 32 fit into the slots 23 as described above. The lateral edges 33 and 34 of the bottom member 3 fit into the grooves 28 and 29 also as described above. Further, the bottom member 3 may be provided with a handle 35 extending along its rear edge for facilitating the insertion and/or removal of the bottom member 3 from the cover member 2 of the cartridge.

FIG. illustrates a rear view of the bottom member 3 showing specifically the handle 35. The position of the handle 35 is not critical and could be located in any other position convenient for the insertion or withdrawal of the bottom member 3 from the cover member 2.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it is to be understood, that it is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ribbon cartridge for guiding a ribbon to follow a given path between a pair of bobbins, wherein the cartridge includes a cartridge housing. a ribbon pay-out bobbin and a ribbon take-up bobbin located in said cartridge housing, the improvement wherein said cartridge housing comprises a cartridge bottom and a cartridge cover member, means for removably holding said cartridge bottom on said cartridge cover member to form said cartridge housing, apertures in said cartridge bottom, means for releasably locating said ribbon pay-out and take-up bobbins in said cartridge housing between said cartridge bottom and said cartridge cover member substantially in register with separate ones of said apertures, and guide means located in said cartridge housing and positioned in said cartridge cover member to define a ribbon path in the cartridge housing corresponding substantially to said given path, said guide means being positioned so that upon removal of said cartridge bottom from said cartridge cover member said ribbon pay-out and take-up bobbin and said ribbon following said ribbon path therebetween may be transferred from said cartridge cover member with the ribbon following said given path, said cartridge bottom comprising a plurality of fingers pointing with their free ends in the same direction said fingers being laterally separated from each other by said apertures which have open ends.

2. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge cover member has side walls and said means for removably holding comprise slots in a side wall of said cartridge cover member for receiving said free ends of the fingers of said cartridge bottom, whereby the cartridge bottom may be released from said cartridge cover member by laterally withdrawing said fingers from said slots.

3. In a ribbon cartridge for guiding a ribbon to follow a given path between a pair of bobbins, wherein the cartridge includes a cartridge housing, a ribbon pay-out bobbin and a ribbon take-up bobbin located in said cartridge housing, the improvement wherein said cartridge housing comprises a cartridge bottom and a cartridge cover member, means for removably holding said cartridge bottom on said cartridge cover member to form said cartridge housing, apertures in said cartridge bottom, means for releasably locating said ribbon pay-out and pick-up bobbins in said cartridge housing between said cartridge bottom and said cartridge cover member substantially in register with separate ones of said apertures, and guide means located in said cartridge housing and positioned in said cartridge cover member to define a ribbon path in the cartridge housing corresponding substantially to said given path, said guide means being positioned so that upon removal of said cartridge bottom from said cartridge cover member said ribbon pay-out and take-up bobbins and said ribbon following said ribbon path therebetween may be transferred from said cartridge cover member with the ribbon following said given path, said guide means comprise tubular members secured to said cartridge cover member substantially in register with respective ones of said apertures, said tubular members having open ended bores therein facing toward said apertures.

4. In a ribbon cartridge for guiding a ribbon to follow a given path between a pair of bobbins, wherein the cartridge includes a cartridge housing, a ribbon pay-out bobbin and a ribbon take-up bobbin located in said cartridge housing, the improvement wherein said cartridge housing comprises a cartridge bottom and a cartridge cover member, means for removably holding said cartridge bottom on said cartridge cover member to form said cartridge housing, apertures in said cartridge bottom, means for releasably locating said ribbon pay-out and take-up bobbins in said cartridge housing between said cartridge bottom and said cartridge cover member substantially in register with separate ones of said apertures, and guide means located in said cartridge housing and positioned in said cartridge cover member to define a ribbon path in the cartridge housing corresponding substantially to said given path, said guide means being positioned so that upon removal of said cartridge bottom from said cartridge cover member, said ribbon pay-out and take-up bobbins and said ribbon following said ribbon path therebetween may be transferred from said cartridge cover member with the ribbon following said given path, said cartridge cover member comprises lateral side walls, said means for removably holding comprising inwardly facing grooves along the lower edges of said lateral side walls, said cartridge bottom having lateral edges fitting into said grooves for sliding the cartridge bottom along said grooves.

5. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge bottom is provided with handle means for pulling the cartridge bottom out of the cartridge cover member.

6. In a ribbon cartridge for guiding a ribbon to follow a given path between a pair of bobbins, wherein the cartridge includes a cartridge housing, a ribbon pay-out bobbin and a ribbon take-up bobbin located in said cartridge housing, the improvement wherein said cartridge housing comprises a cartridge bottom and a cartridge cover member, means for removably holding said cartridge bottom on said cartridge cover member to form said cartridge housing, apertures in said cartridge bottom, means for releasable locating said ribbon pay-out and take-up bobbins in said cartridge housing between said cartridge bottom and said cartridge cover member substantially in register with separate ones of said apertures, and guide means located in said cartridge housing and positioned in said cartridge cover member to define a ribbon path in the cartridge housing corresponding substantially to said given path, said guide means being positioned so that upon removal of said cartridge bottom from said cartridge cover member, said ribbon pay-out and take-up bobbins and said ribbon following said ribbon path therebetween may be transferred from said cartridge cover member with the ribbon following said given path, said cartridge cover member having two opposite longitudinal walls, a cut out in one of said longitudinal walls and a ribbon guide pin mounted adjacent to and outside of the other longitudinal wall substantially opposite said cut out.

7. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said other longitudinal wall has a pair of ends and forms a V-shape substantially intermediate said pair of ends, said ribbon guide pin being mounted substantially in the bottom of said V-shape and spaced from said other longitudinal wall to form a ribbon guide slot between said guide pin and said other longitudinal wall.

8. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a full roll of ribbon is supported on said ribbon pay-out bobbin for counterclockwise rotation therewith, and wherein said ribbon take-up bobbin is rotatable in the clockwise direction.

9. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge cover member comprises side wall means having a ribbon pay-out slot and a ribbon take-up slot therein.

10. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1,

wherein said cartridge cover member is made of plastic transparent material.

11. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge cover member and said cartridge bottom are made of plastic transparent material.

12. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said guide means in the cartridge are downwardly facing studs attached to the cover member and located to substantially duplicate said given path.

13. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge cover member has portions of different heights, and a wall member for interconnecting said portions.

' 14. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 12, wherein said wall member is slanted.

15. A ribbon cartridge for releasably holding a ribbon extending between a pair of bobbins along a given path for transferring the ribbon and bobbins from the cartridge with the ribbon still extending along said given path, said cartridge comprising: a cover member having a top wall with a periphery and side walls depending from said periphery, a plurality of guide means extending from said top wall and normal thereto in position to guide a ribbon along a path substantially corresponding to said given path, a bottom member, means for releasably retaining said bobbins between said top wall and said bottom member, aperture means in said bottom member aligned with said bobbin retaining means, and means for releasably holding said bottom member to said side walls in alignment with said top wall and spaced therefrom whereby said bottom member is removable by movement parallel to said top wall, and whereby the ribbon path defined by said guide means is exposed in said cover member upon removal of said bottom member therefrom, said bottom member comprising a plurality of spaced apart fingers having their free ends pointing in the same direction, the lateral spaces between said fingers defining said aperture means.

16. The ribbon cartridge of claim 15, wherein said means for releasably holding comprises slot means in said side walls positioned to receive said fingers, and groove means in said side walls positioned to slidably engage edges of said bottom member.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Inventor(s) Ni Klaus von Daeniken' It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as'shown below:

.[75] lnventor: Niklaus von Daniken Egg bei Zuer'ich' Switzerland In column 6, line 32 change "12" to --13 Signed and sealed this 7th d e}? bf January 1975.

(SEAL) I Attest:

' McCOY M. GIBSONI JR. c. MARSHALL-D M K v Attesting of fieer Commissioner 'of' Patents rnmyl 90-1050 [10.69) 

1. In a ribbon cartridge for guiding a ribbon to follow a given path between a pair of bobbins, wherein the cartridge includes a carriage housing, a ribbon pay-out bobbin and a ribbon take-up bobbin located in said cartridge housing, the improvement wherein said cartridge housing comprises a cartridge bottom and a cartridge cover member, means for removably holding said cartridge bottom on said cartridge cover member to form said cartridge housing, apertures in said cartridge bottom, means for releasably locating said ribbon pay-out and take-up bobbins in said cartridge housing between said cartridge bottom and Said cartridge cover member substantially in register with separate ones of said apertures, and guide means located in said cartridge housing and positioned in said cartridge cover member to define a ribbon path in the cartridge housing corresponding substantially to said given path, said guide means being positioned so that upon removal of said cartridge bottom from said cartridge cover member said ribbon pay-out and take-up bobbin and said ribbon following said ribbon path therebetween may be transferred from said cartridge cover member with the ribbon following said given path, said cartridge bottom comprising a plurality of fingers pointing with their free ends in the same direction said fingers being laterally separated from each other by said apertures which have open ends.
 2. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge cover member has side walls and said means for removably holding comprise slots in a side wall of said cartridge cover member for receiving said free ends of the fingers of said cartridge bottom, whereby the cartridge bottom may be released from said cartridge cover member by laterally withdrawing said fingers from said slots.
 3. In a ribbon cartridge for guiding a ribbon to follow a given path between a pair of bobbins, wherein the cartridge includes a cartridge housing, a ribbon pay-out bobbin and a ribbon take-up bobbin located in said cartridge housing, the improvement wherein said cartridge housing comprises a cartridge bottom and a cartridge cover member, means for removably holding said cartridge bottom on said cartridge cover member to form said cartridge housing, apertures in said cartridge bottom, means for releasably locating said ribbon pay-out and pick-up bobbins in said cartridge housing between said cartridge bottom and said cartridge cover member substantially in register with separate ones of said apertures, and guide means located in said cartridge housing and positioned in said cartridge cover member to define a ribbon path in the cartridge housing corresponding substantially to said given path, said guide means being positioned so that upon removal of said cartridge bottom from said cartridge cover member said ribbon pay-out and take-up bobbins and said ribbon following said ribbon path therebetween may be transferred from said cartridge cover member with the ribbon following said given path, said guide means comprise tubular members secured to said cartridge cover member substantially in register with respective ones of said apertures, said tubular members having open ended bores therein facing toward said apertures.
 4. In a ribbon cartridge for guiding a ribbon to follow a given path between a pair of bobbins, wherein the cartridge includes a cartridge housing, a ribbon pay-out bobbin and a ribbon take-up bobbin located in said cartridge housing, the improvement wherein said cartridge housing comprises a cartridge bottom and a cartridge cover member, means for removably holding said cartridge bottom on said cartridge cover member to form said cartridge housing, apertures in said cartridge bottom, means for releasably locating said ribbon pay-out and take-up bobbins in said cartridge housing between said cartridge bottom and said cartridge cover member substantially in register with separate ones of said apertures, and guide means located in said cartridge housing and positioned in said cartridge cover member to define a ribbon path in the cartridge housing corresponding substantially to said given path, said guide means being positioned so that upon removal of said cartridge bottom from said cartridge cover member, said ribbon pay-out and take-up bobbins and said ribbon following said ribbon path therebetween may be transferred from said cartridge cover member with the ribbon following said given path, said cartridge cover member comprises lateral side walls, said means for removably holding comprising inwardly facing grooves along the lower edges of said lateral side walls, said cartridge bottom havinG lateral edges fitting into said grooves for sliding the cartridge bottom along said grooves.
 5. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge bottom is provided with handle means for pulling the cartridge bottom out of the cartridge cover member.
 6. In a ribbon cartridge for guiding a ribbon to follow a given path between a pair of bobbins, wherein the cartridge includes a cartridge housing, a ribbon pay-out bobbin and a ribbon take-up bobbin located in said cartridge housing, the improvement wherein said cartridge housing comprises a cartridge bottom and a cartridge cover member, means for removably holding said cartridge bottom on said cartridge cover member to form said cartridge housing, apertures in said cartridge bottom, means for releasable locating said ribbon pay-out and take-up bobbins in said cartridge housing between said cartridge bottom and said cartridge cover member substantially in register with separate ones of said apertures, and guide means located in said cartridge housing and positioned in said cartridge cover member to define a ribbon path in the cartridge housing corresponding substantially to said given path, said guide means being positioned so that upon removal of said cartridge bottom from said cartridge cover member, said ribbon pay-out and take-up bobbins and said ribbon following said ribbon path therebetween may be transferred from said cartridge cover member with the ribbon following said given path, said cartridge cover member having two opposite longitudinal walls, a cut out in one of said longitudinal walls and a ribbon guide pin mounted adjacent to and outside of the other longitudinal wall substantially opposite said cut out.
 7. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said other longitudinal wall has a pair of ends and forms a V-shape substantially intermediate said pair of ends, said ribbon guide pin being mounted substantially in the bottom of said V-shape and spaced from said other longitudinal wall to form a ribbon guide slot between said guide pin and said other longitudinal wall.
 8. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a full roll of ribbon is supported on said ribbon pay-out bobbin for counterclockwise rotation therewith, and wherein said ribbon take-up bobbin is rotatable in the clockwise direction.
 9. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge cover member comprises side wall means having a ribbon pay-out slot and a ribbon take-up slot therein.
 10. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge cover member is made of plastic transparent material.
 11. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge cover member and said cartridge bottom are made of plastic transparent material.
 12. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said guide means in the cartridge are downwardly facing studs attached to the cover member and located to substantially duplicate said given path.
 13. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge cover member has portions of different heights, and a wall member for interconnecting said portions.
 14. The ribbon cartridge according to claim 12, wherein said wall member is slanted.
 15. A ribbon cartridge for releasably holding a ribbon extending between a pair of bobbins along a given path for transferring the ribbon and bobbins from the cartridge with the ribbon still extending along said given path, said cartridge comprising: a cover member having a top wall with a periphery and side walls depending from said periphery, a plurality of guide means extending from said top wall and normal thereto in position to guide a ribbon along a path substantially corresponding to said given path, a bottom member, means for releasably retaining said bobbins between said top wall and said bottom member, aperture means in said bottom member aligned with said bobbin retaining means, and means for releasably holding said bottom member to said side wallS in alignment with said top wall and spaced therefrom whereby said bottom member is removable by movement parallel to said top wall, and whereby the ribbon path defined by said guide means is exposed in said cover member upon removal of said bottom member therefrom, said bottom member comprising a plurality of spaced apart fingers having their free ends pointing in the same direction, the lateral spaces between said fingers defining said aperture means.
 16. The ribbon cartridge of claim 15, wherein said means for releasably holding comprises slot means in said side walls positioned to receive said fingers, and groove means in said side walls positioned to slidably engage edges of said bottom member. 